Page 1 of Accidental Theirs (Alpha Billionaire Daddies #6)

Chapter One

OLIVIA

“Oh my god, can you imagine it? He’s actually going to be there.” Marie, a coworker, who is also a friend of mine, is leaning toward Roland, my personal assistant and one of my best friends.

I walk over to where they are by the water cooler, frowning. “Who are we talking about?”

Roland smirks at me. “Hey, boss. You finally coming up for air?”

I shrug. “Girl’s got to take a break sometime.”

Leaning down, I grab myself a cup of water, shooting it back like a liquor shot.

Roland chuckles. “If you really want a break, come out with us for drinks tonight. Damien is coming.”

Damien Blackwood, CEO of Carter Holdings. My boss.

He doesn't do outings, work-related or otherwise, unless he’s schmoozing with a client. And there is no client to impress this time.

I shake my head. “I doubt it.”

“Really,” Roland insists. “He promised me. And you know he’s a man of his word. ”

He’s right. Damien may be many things, but he is also, in fact, a man of his word.

“Well, then. Looks like I need to go, too. See this miracle in action.”

Marie groans. “Both the bosses are coming? How are we supposed to have any fun?”

I shrug. “You know me. Anything that happens downtown stays downtown.”

As if he senses we’re talking about him, Damien comes out of his office and looks over at us.

Roland and Marie look away from his intense gaze, but I look back at him, unafraid.

Though Damien and I aren’t exactly friends, we work well together, and he’s always been there for me through all the ups and downs that Carter Holdings has been through.

He might be the CEO, but this company has been mine ever since I lost my mom. And though he’s my rock in the business world, I honestly don’t know much about him otherwise.

I mean, of course I know he’s handsome, with his green eyes, strong jaw, impeccably shaved face, and broad chest and shoulders.

He definitely puts in the work–I’ve seen him down at the building’s gym, and he does some serious numbers. And he doesn’t wear a ring, so I assume he’s not married, but how would I know?

He walks over to me, towering over me at six-foot-four, but I’m not intimidated.

Damien may be the serious type, but he’s kind, and I can see it in his eyes.

“Ms. Carter.”

“Mr. Blackwood.” My voice has a lilt of a tease to it, but he doesn’t seem to notice. “I heard a rumor that you’ll be going out for drinks with us after work. ”

He looks bemused as he glances at Roland and then back at me. “Wonder who told you that.”

Roland clears his throat and excuses himself, and I chuckle.

“I’m just surprised. You never go out.”

Damien’s shoulders stiffen. “I go out plenty.”

“Not with us.”

“It’s been busy with the Titan merger.”

I groan inwardly at the very mention of the merger.

It terrifies me, honestly, in more ways than one, but I know it’s the only way that Carter Holdings can grow.

Damien leans down to get himself a cup of water. “I’ll buy you a drink.”

I catch a hint of his cologne–light, something like sandalwood.

It makes my head spin just a little.

“Make that three, and you got yourself a deal.”

Damien gives me a half-smile that makes his face look ten years younger.

He nods. “See you there.”

I watch his broad shoulders as he walks back into his office.

“Was that... flirting?” Marie is looking straight at me, and I tilt my head, still watching Damien go.

“I don’t know. Maybe.” I fight a smile.

She squeals.

I shush her, and she just looks at me, grinning.

“We’re pre-gaming at my place. You coming?”

“I’ll wrap this up in a couple of hours, meet you there?”

Marie nods, and then someone calls her from across the office, and she hurries away.

Back to work with me, I suppose.

Two hours and a mountain of paperwork later, I’m ready to go .

I can’t wait to be rid of all those numbers . I’m going over the financials, which is something that Damien usually does, but I want to be in the loop when it comes to this merger.

Marie and Roland have already left, so I make my way to her apartment after dropping by my place to pick up my clothes and makeup. Marie always ends up using mine, because I splurge on the expensive stuff.

I always want to look my best, particularly at work, and that costs money.

Marie has a wine glass in hand as she opens the door, and I walk in, and Roland instantly hands me a big glass of white.

“Pinot Grigio?”

Marie shakes her head. “Moscato.”

I wrinkle my nose but chug it down, enjoying the way the carbonation burns down my throat and how the alcohol warms my chest.

Roland shrugs. “I know you don’t like sweet wines, but we do, and well, we didn’t think you’d come.”

I sigh.

I can’t blame them. In the last couple of years, I’ve only been out... once? Maybe twice?

“I never get out, so I want to do it up tonight.”

“Let your hair down!” Marie giggles, already tipsy, and she takes down my hair from the bun that it’s in, making it fall down around my shoulders.

Roland whistles. “Your hair. I forget how gorgeous it is! Almost blue-black.”

“I get it from my mom.” I almost puff my chest at that.

I miss her so profoundly it almost makes me weak in the knees.

She died only five years ago, and Carter Holdings was my inheritance.

Marie pats my shoulder. “I miss her, too.”

I fight the tears burning at the backs of my eyes .

Roland’s eyes meet mine. “She wouldn’t want you to be sad. Carter Holdings is growing with this Titan merger, and we should celebrate.”

Oh, yeah. The merger.

I bite my lip a bit. “Titan’s the biggest boutique investment firm in the city, and the merger with them will increase our profit margin tenfold. I’m honestly surprised that they’re interested.”

Roland nods. “But isn’t that what they do? Find smaller firms and take them over?”

“Yeah. It’s just…” I’m not entirely certain I want to make all those changes. I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter. Damien is convinced it’s the only way forward, and I trust him.”

I guess my nerves have less to do with Damien’s judgment and more to do with their up-and-coming new executive.

I take a sip. “No one from Titan is coming, are they?”

Roland winces.

Marie just looks at me, wide-eyed. “Are you afraid Dominic will be there?”

I clap my hand over her mouth. “Don’t speak of the devil.”

Roland chuckles, and I shoot him a look that could kill.

He grins. “What? You’re going to have to deal with him sometime.”

“Not tonight,” I mumble, pouring another glass of wine.

Marie chuckles and takes a sip from her glass. “You drink enough of that, you’ll be the one talking about him.”

“I’ll cut myself off before that.” I refuse to remember how many times I got drunk and let my mouth run about that man.

Marie and I stop at our second glass of wine to go and do our hair and makeup.

I leave my hair loose for once, bouncing halfway down my back. The nice curl at the ends makes it perfect, so I don’t bother doing much to it.

I put on some brown eyeshadow with gold undertones to make my eyes pop and steal one of Marie’s skirts.

She’s a good deal shorter than me, so it hits a little high on my thigh, but I think it works.

I have long legs, and I like to show off my assets. I’m insecure about a lot in my body, but not that.

Roland whoops and whistles at us as we walk through, and we pose for him, giggling.

Marie elbows Roland. “Is Dennis coming?”

Roland gets a sour look on his face. “Not anytime soon.”

I can’t help but laugh.

Dennis is Roland’s on-again off-again boyfriend, and right now I guess it’s off-again season.

We take an Uber to the bar since we are already tipsy and plan to drink more, but I can’t help feeling apprehensive.

What am I going to do if Dominic is there?

I haven’t seen him in years, not since I was in college.

Will I want to talk to him?

Will he want to talk to me?

It’s not like he’s tried to look me up in all this time.

I shouldn’t care, right?

I mean, I don’t care.

God, I just hope I don’t live to regret finally breaking the streak and deciding to go out tonight.